Week-Long Great Inventors Unit Study for High School (FREE PRINTABLE)

Great Inventors: Innovation and How they Shaped the World

This unit is appropriate for grades 9-12, but can be tailored to fit a family-style learning format.  It is designed to be used in a single week OR in a Fun Friday format, completing one day of the unit each week of the month.  Visit the Subscribers Page for a printable PDF version. 

For extra enrichment, try an Invention Kit.  To tailor for additional middle or elementary school family members, visit the Nick & Tesla series to pick and choose from additional topics. 

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Day 1: The Power of Invention — What Is an Inventor?

Activities:

• Read/Watch:

  • Watch: Invention vs. Innovation

  • Read an overview: “10 Inventions That Changed the World”

  • Watch How Inventions Changed History

• Discussion Prompts:

  • What makes someone an inventor?

  • Are inventors always scientists?

• Journal Prompt:

  • “What’s one problem in the world you would like to solve through invention?”

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Day 2: Leonardo da Vinci & Early Innovators

Activities:

• Read/Watch:

  • Watch: Leonardo da Vinci: Ahead of His Time

  • Read: Short biography of da Vinci

• Creative Option:

  • Sketch one of da Vinci’s inventions (e.g., flying machine or water lift) and label its parts

• Deeper Thinking:

  • Why do you think da Vinci’s inventions were ahead of his time?

  • What holds back an invention from becoming reality?

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Day 3: Industrial Age Inventors

Activities:

• Watch/Read:

  • Video on Edison vs. Tesla   (Short version)

  • Choose one to read a short bio and summarize his work

• Compare & Contrast Chart:

  • Edison vs. Tesla — differences in inventions, personalities, and philosophies

• Journal Prompt:

  • “Do you think competition helps or hurts invention? Why?”

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Day 4: 20th Century & Modern Inventors

Activities:

• Read/Watch:

  • Short documentary clips on Marie Curie and Hedy Lamarr

  • Read: “Inventors You Didn’t Learn About in School”

• Discussion Prompt:

  • Why do some inventors get more recognition than others?

• Mini Research Project:

  • Choose a 20th or 21st-century inventor not covered in the study

  • Prepare a 1–2 minute oral or written report on their life and invention

• Journal Prompt:

  • “Which modern invention could you not live without? Why?”

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Day 5: Invent Like an Inventor – Project Day

Activities:

• Final Project (Choose One):

  1. Inventor Biography Project:
     Create a poster, slideshow, or mini-book on your favorite inventor. Include:

     • Biography

     • Invention(s)

     • Historical impact

     • Fun facts

  2. Invent Your Own Invention:

     • Identify a problem or need

     • Sketch and describe your invention

     • Explain how it works and who it helps

• Final Journal Prompt:

  • “What does being an inventor mean to you after this week?”

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Optional Resources

Videos:

• The Men Who Built America

Books:

• The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

• How We Got to Now

Pick up the ENTIRE SERIES right now - plus several bonus units - in our Cottage Shop.

These units are appropriate for grades 9-12, but can be tailored to fit a family-style learning format.  They are designed to be used in a single week OR in a Fun Friday format, completing one day of the unit each week of the month.  Each day takes 1-2 hours. This bundle includes the basic twelve, tailored to each month of the year, plus EIGHT bonus units!